WHEREABOUT OF POPULAR EVANGELIST AND PREACHER, DAMIAN EITOBHIN OMIOSE, STILL UNKNOWN FOLLOWING HIS ABDUCTION.
Whereabouts of volunteer science teacher and evangelist, popular preacher, Damian Eitobhin Omiose is still unknown following his abduction. According to an eye witness report and complaints, he lived at No. 25 Mallai street, Ndun, Bokkos L.G.A, Plateau State where he freelanced as a volunteer science teacher in various communities and surrounding villages, and worked there as a Christian evangelist and preacher.
On the 24th of December, 2023, the community was attacked by suspected terrorists and armed bandits. The herdsmen unleashed a reign of terror and mayhem on the community by killing, maiming and inflicting all manners of pain on the people and burnt down their houses and properties. Many people were said to have been abducted, among whom was this popular preacher. Information about him remains unknown since his abduction.
‘Bandits’ started attacks in Bokkos area and spilled into neighbouring Barkin Ladi, according to our local reporter.
The death toll in Nigeria’s Christmas Eve attacked by armed gangs has risen to 150, Plateau state officials said Wednesday, while survivors and observers expressed outrage at the government’s reaction.
Plateau authorities say the unknown gunmen overran more than 17 local villages across Bokkos and two other districts, burning down houses in the attack.
A local district head in Bokkos said search teams were still combing nearby bushes for missing people. Thousands have been displaced from their homes.
Shelong Gabriel said she last spoke to two of her male cousins on Christmas Eve.
She said that the two brothers — ages 45 and 58 — told her they had joined a local vigilante group because of a warning of a possible attack. Later that night, she said, assailants attacked the village, killing the men and their mother.
“These people came on motorbikes, and they had so much machineries” Gabriel said. “I lost three of my family.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack, but locals blame herders. Plateau state is embroiled in a decades-old ethno-religious conflict between predominantly Muslim herders and Christian farmers.
At the internal displaced camp in Bokkos, Nigeria, on Dec. 27, 2023, Vice President Kashim Shettima shakes hands with survivors of the attacks that killed at least 150 people.
The attack has sparked outrage and criticism of the government.
Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s country director for Nigeria, called on authorities to investigate.
“It is really sad and unfortunate that these kinds of things continue to happen, and the authorities cannot do anything apart from sympathizing with the victims, which shows helplessness on their side,” Sanusi said. “Rural communities have been allowed to live in the last 10 years or so at the mercy of gunmen.”
Plateau resident Mangai Luka said people have been afraid since the attack.
“People are at home; nobody is going anywhere,” Luka said. “With the situation … you can’t go far from the house because you can’t tell what will happen next. Even [last] night we heard gunshots; we couldn’t sleep.”
Nigerian authorities have condemned the attack and promised to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Insecurity is a big problem for the government of President Bola Tinubu, who came to power promising to address the problem.
Vice President Kashim Shettima visited the affected villages Wednesday.
Some observers, including security analyst Chukwudi Victor Odoeme, remain critical of the government’s efforts.
“I think the government is not doing enough,” he said. ”There’s still the absence of political will. It’s an indictment on our government and security forces.”